Criminal investigation in corruption in timber business of Shenkursk District concluded in Arkhangelsk Region

The Arkhangelsk Region and Nenets Autonomous Area Office of the Investigative Committee has concluded preinvestigation against 41-year-old entrepreneur engaged into timber business.

He is accused of bribery under Part 3 of Article 291 and bribery in profit-making organization under Items B, C, Part 3 of Article 204, his acquaintance is accused of mediation in bribery under Part 2 of Article 291.1, the owner of the Shenkursk Forestry plot is accused of mediation in bribery in profit-making organization under Part 5 of Article 33, Items B,C, Part 3 of Article 204, as well as employee of the Arkhangelsk Branch of Roslesinforg (Russian Forestry Organization) is accused of illegal receipt of money for commitment of illegal actions in the interests of the giver, committed in large amount under Items C,D, Part 7 of Article 207 and employee of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forest Industries of Arkhangelsk Region, who is accused of bribe taking from mediator in the form of property under Part 3 of Article 290.

According to investigators, in 2014 the entrepreneur and his accomplice addressed the employee of the Roslesinforg with request to draw up a forest organizing document, containing deliberate wrong information about afforestation, as well as volumes of timber on a rented plot for an award of 250,000 rubles. The representative of the Arkhangelsk Branch of Roslesinforg agreed to this proposal and drew up sham documents, which then were referred for approval to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forest Industries of Arkhangelsk Region. The employee of the Ministry for a bribe in the form of lumber for building of a bathhouse on a total sum of 120,000 rubles, knowing about false data in the documents, accepted them for review and provided signing of the documents by higher management.

As a result of illegal actions, the entrepreneur harvested firwood and increased volume of actually harvested timber.

The criminal case has been launched base on materials, presented by the Arkhangesk Region Directorate of the Federal Security Service.

The accused didn’t confess to their crimes during questioning.

Necessary investigative operations were conducted to gather and prove evidence. After lawyers of the accused get acquainted with the case, it will be referred to a Prosecutor for further actions within his responsibilities.